Dumb question for guitarists
 

When Thurston runs his hand up the neck on this video, at about 2:58, he has his palm across the strings between the neck and bridge pickup, How does he make that noise without just muting the strings, is it just fuckloads of pedals or has he got super smooth skin and he can use it like a slide!??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDPLKLnmI0A

It might be a combination of palm mute between the pickups and the feedback created from the distortion pedals he's using, probably a combination of the Dunlop hendrix octave fuzz, ProCo turbo rat, and Sovtek Bigmuff... but sometimes he'll actually push the strings in toward the body at that position such that the strings touch the poles on the pickup this causes a ping like sound and with distortion effects it is amplified.

i think he is using his rat for distortion during that part. i agree with scott that volume probably has a lot to do with it and he probably is pushing the strings down so they are fretting on the pickups.

pure luck?

I just love that bit in Unmade Bed so much, its hard to figure out who is doing what but on the record it sounds like he's using a Wah pedal, very slowly rocking it forward for the stabs, if its thurston who plays the stabs

i think its all the distortion. whenever you press the strings right onto the pickup, it creates this very loud noise. but you constantly have to keep pressure on the strings. or something

Thurston's setup is presumably particularily 'hot' to begin with. That means his pickups are are detecting every little nuance.

Your pickups are crucial for your outputed sound.

It is gear not technique that is making that noise...

Luv to the T man

I am more curious how Thurston seems to 'SPIDER' his guitar.....

With the arch of his hand really high....

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1.../Picture15.jpg

are we talking about the point with his hand over the pickups? sounds like a typical Butthole Surfers sound to me, thrash higher than high

also don't forget sheer awesomeness. that is a large part of thurston's playing

Agreed. He seems to be able to 'go longer' than other players...espcially during his noise freakouts.

How does he do tihs?

He's 6' 5" or something. large hands.

hmm, so he pushes the strings into the pickups? I doubt im gonna be able to do that with a telecaster =(

I have a tele strung with 11s and it's not that difficult. You have to use quite a bit of force right in the middle of the pickguard to get the strings to fret on the bridge pickup. The reward is those nice "pinging" sounds.

You can't tell form the video but he has his penis out and that is what makes the fabulous noises.

I use 11s too actually, I just figured it was too far away but I'll give it ago

My band are started to incorporate more sort of noise elements into our sound and jammy sections and realising its not half as easy as SY make it look, I think alot of it is confidence

the love of noise. just yesterday my guitar and I were making some feedback that I can not explain, but was simply divine to my ears. some moments are fleeting, and meant only to be enjoyed once, like a good meal.

We had a rehearsal Sunday evening that ended with all 3 guitars on the floor strings slackened or against an amp, all effects pedals on and all 4 of us on the drumkit and it was just beautiful, my left ear still hurts but it was a glorious moment in time and wont happen ever again

Perhaps but I also think they master larsens, feedback and other "noise techniques" more easily thanks to their live experience (it doesn't come from nowhere). It doesn't come that naturally even with lots of distortion and pedals.

how do you mean?? cos they play really loud or you mean something to do with their sound system